AboutSimone

Simone was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire but moved
away as a child, and was educated in Berkshire and
Brighton, (where she read English in the School of
English and American Studies at Sussex University).
She also trained both as a teacher of EFL and of
Speech and Drama. After A LONG TIME of being in
business and a mother, she rediscovered 'creative
writing' in December 2004. Simone returned to Wales
at the end of 2006, where she lives on a farm in North
Carmarthenshire, co-running a small centre for
courses, holidays and workshops -
www.ceridwencentre.co.uk.

Simone chairs a local writers' group, is an active
member of another 2 local groups, organises and hosts
a successful monthly spoken word night in Cardigan,
('Word Up'), regularly reads at other open mic nights,
has been heard on radio, at festivals and in slams,
(winning the Denbigh Festival Slam in June 2008). She
now performs her poetry regularly and has started
leading writing workshops. Simone was one of 2 Welsh
heat winners for the Radio 4 performance poetry slam
competition in 2009.

Since December 2005, Simone's been long-listed,
short-listed, commended and placed in various
competitions, been published in anthologies, (Leaf
Books, Winchester Writers' Conference, Ragged Raven,
Cinnamon Press, Templar, Voice of Women in Wales),
and in magazines, (Boomslang, Carillon, Envoi, Iota,
Roundyhouse, Square, The Cannon's Mouth, The New
Writer, The 7th Quarry, Interpreter's House). She's
had several first prizes, including Winchester Writers'
Conference in 2007.

In April 2008, Simone produced a pamphlet of 27
poems called 'Not exactly getting anywhere but'
described by writer and editor Phil Carradice as 'finely
observed poems, verses we can all identify with and
enjoy -poems to make you think -well worth a read.'
This pamphlet was reprinted in March 2009 when her
second volume, 'Juice of the lemon' was published.

Simone loves poetry both on the page and on the
stage.

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HEAR some of my poems on www.poetcasting.co.uk
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Published in...
Anthologies:
60 Poems for Haiti, Cane Arrow Press - June 2010 - 'Compassion fatigue'
Voices of Women in Wales - March 2010 - 'Against the grain' & 'Aged 3'
All the Way Home, Leaf Books - 'Supported Housing' - Dec 2009
Stripe,Templar Poetry 2009 - 'Monastery' (September 2009)
And Again Last Night, Indigo Press 2009 - 'Apology' and 'It should have
been me'
Norwich Writers' Circle competition 2009 - 'Lemon Curd'
Buzz, Templar Poetry 2008 - 'Pixie Boots'
The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Cinnamon Press 2008 - 'High Winds' and
'Mole'
The Machineries of Love, Ragged Raven Press, 2008- 'Waiting for news'
The Best of 2007 (Winchester Writers' Conference Anthology), 2008 -
'12th September' (1st prize)
Ukraine & Other Poems, Leaf Books, 2007 - 'The washing of plates'
(commended)
Coffee and Chocolate, Leaf Books, 2007 - 'Aged 3, an Italian coffee bar,
Pembrokeshire' (1st prize)
Razzamatazz and Other Poems, Leaf Books, 2006 - 'Stepmother'
(commended)
Out of Love, Leaf Books, 2006 - 'Such little things' (commended)

Magazines and ezines:
The 7th Quarry, issue 12, 2010 - 'Throwing plates'
Roundyhouse, issue 30, 2010 - 'Visiting Time' and 'He drew the line at
Sacha Distel'
Leaf Writers' Magazine issue 1, 2010 - 'The writing book' and 'Aged 3...'
& the author's commentary
The Interpreter's House, issue 43, 2010 - 'For a Dead Princess'
Carillon, issue 26, 2010 - 'Nigella'
The 7th Quarry. issue 11 2010 - 'Fake Bake'
Square, issue 6, 2009 - 'On the first day of Christmas..'
Carillon, issue 25, 2009 - 'Cub in the camp'
Boomslang, Vol 2 No 1, 2009 - 'Comet 109p, or no fireworks tonight'
Roundyhouse, issue 28, 2009 - 'Princess'
Roundyhouse, issue 27, 2009 - 'There she is'
www.ink-sweat-and-tears.com, 2009 - 'Lizard', 'Tarmac' and 'Searching
for Donkeys'
Envoi, issue 152, 2009 - 'He dreams of' and 'Son'
Roundyhouse, issue 26, 2009 - 'Ode to Mister Fox', 'Manticipation'
The Cannon's Mouth, issue 30, December 2008 - 'Seashells and a ra-ra
skirt' (third prize).
Boomslang, volume 1, number 2 - November 2008 - 'Call centre'
Carillon, issue 21, 2008 - 'The House'
Roundyhouse, issue 24, 2008 - 'The Last Night'
Iota, issue 81, 2008 - 'Invitation'
Roundyhouse, issue 22, 2007 - 'It's the thought that counts' and
'Surprises'
Envoi issue 148, 2007 - 'I don't think he's here today' & 'A different sort
of Christmas'
Carillon, issue 19, 2007 - 'Unwanted Attentions' (Winner)
Carillon, issue 17, 2007 - 'Five Changes' (1st prize)
Roundyhouse, issue 21, 2007 - 'Hot Water Bottle'
The New Writer, issue 84, 2007 - 'Nature Study'

Websites:
www.poetrypf.co.uk - now featured on this website of poems and poets
www.poetcasting.co.uk - now featured on this poet podcasting website
www.secondlightlive.co.uk - women's poetry network
www.blackcatpoems.com - "Nigella" and "Domestic Goddess"
www.scholastic.co.uk/literacytime - "Do you dream of Angelina?"
(winner)
www.jbwb.co.uk - competitions, 'Doing without Dyno-Rod' (2nd prize),
'Medicine Bears' (3rd prize), 'Pixie Boots' (commended), 'Callcentre'
(runner up), 'Lullaby' (highly commended), and 'Yowl' (runner up)

Simone Mansell Broome Penybanc Drefach-Felindre, Llandysul,
Carmarthenshire SA44 5XE. Tel 01559 370517